On July 1, 2025, Florida Senator Ashley Moody voted against an amendment to remove the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's federal tax credit for private and religious school scholarships, and it failed on a 50-50 tie, so her vote kept the program. Later that day she cast one of the 50 votes that passed the law. The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty wrote that Congress has entangled government and religion in ways our Founders warned against, and Florida is one of the states that opted into the program.
She also voted to confirm Homeland Security Secretaries Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin, whose department allowed immigration arrests at churches and other houses of worship, a policy that 27 religious groups say is spreading fear of raids, thus lowering attendance at worship services. In August 2025 Moody praised the voucher credit at an event in Tampa with Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Ashley Moody's Votes and Confirmations on Religious-School Vouchers and Arrests at Houses of Worship
- Moody Cast a Deciding Vote to Keep Federal Tax Credits for Private and Religious School Tuition. On July 1, 2025, Ashley Moody voted no on Senator Mazie Hirono's amendment To eliminate a program of qualified elementary and secondary education scholarships for public, private or religious schools. It failed 50-50, so a switch by Moody alone would have removed the program. The law gives a dollar-for-dollar federal credit to any taxpayer who donates up to $1,700 annually to a scholarship-granting 501(c)(3) charity organization, and the scholarships can pay tuition at secular and religious schools. The Baptist Joint Committee wrote that the program has entangled government and religion in ways our Founders warned against and projected it would add $26 billion to the national debt, and the National Catholic Educational Association noted the law does not offer religious liberty protections for participating schools.
- Moody Cast One of the 50 Votes That Enacted the Voucher Tax Credit. On July 1, 2025, Moody voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed 50 to 50 with the Vice President's vote and makes the credit available for tax years ending after December 31, 2026. Families earning up to 300 percent of the area median gross income qualify for the scholarships, so the federal tax money can go to families well above the middle of the income scale.
- Moody Voted to Confirm the Homeland Security Secretaries Who Allowed Immigration Arrests at Houses of Worship. Ashley Moody voted to confirm Kristi Noem on January 25, 2025 (roll call 17) and Markwayne Mullin on March 23, 2026 (roll call 63) as secretary of homeland security. Eleven days after the administration ended a policy that for more than thirty years kept enforcement away from houses of worship, ICE told supervisors they could approve operations at churches case by case, with no "bright line rules", the D.C. Circuit recounted. Twenty-seven religious groups sued, saying the policy is spreading fear of raids, thus lowering attendance at worship services; on October 20, 2026 the appeals court held they likely face imminent harm and returned the case to the trial court. ICE also barred clergy from detainees in some facilities until judges ordered it to permit pastoral visits.
- Moody Praised the Voucher Tax Credit With Education Secretary Linda McMahon in August 2025. On August 6, 2025, in Tampa with Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Moody said of the law's scholarship tax credit: "Today, I am delivering on that promise" as we expand school choice nationwide. That statement endorses the federal credit that the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty projected would add $26 billion to the national debt while sending tax money to religious-school tuition.
What These Policies Mean for Congregations and Taxpayers in Florida Under Ashley Moody's Votes
- Vouchers in Florida. Florida is one of the states that have formally opted into the program, the IRS said in early 2026, so Florida taxpayers can claim the $1,700 credit for gifts that pay private and religious school tuition starting with tax year 2027.
- Houses of worship. Florida congregations are covered by the same ICE policy as every other state: there are no "bright line rules" keeping arrests away from houses of worship, the policy that religious groups say has lowered attendance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ashley Moody on Religious freedom
What is Ashley Moody's record on religious freedom under Trump?
Ashley Moody cast a deciding vote to keep the 2025 law's federal tax credit for private and religious school scholarships, which the Baptist Joint Committee says entangled government and religion, and voted for the law itself. She voted to confirm Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin, whose department allowed immigration arrests at houses of worship.
Did Ashley Moody vote for the federal school voucher tax credit?
Yes. Ashley Moody voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed 50 to 50, and against the Hirono amendment to strike its scholarship tax credit, which failed on a 50-50 tie. Florida opted into the program, which starts with tax year 2027, and Moody praised it in Tampa in August 2025.
Can ICE make arrests at churches under the officials Ashley Moody confirmed?
Yes. Under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Ashley Moody voted to confirm, ICE ended the policy that kept enforcement away from houses of worship, and supervisors can now approve operations there case by case with no "bright line rules". In October 2026 an appeals court found the religious groups likely face imminent harm and returned their lawsuit to the trial court.
Last updated: 2026-10-25